Prolonged lung retention of 131I-HIPDM in smokers.

Thirty-five subjects were divided into 4 groups; the first group was composed of 8 healthy nonsmoking subjects; the second group included 8 healthy smokers; the third group included 12 nonsmoking patients suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema; the fourth group was composed of 7 smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema. N,N,N'-trimethyl-N'2-Hydroxy-3-Methyl-5-iodobenzyl-1,3-propanediamine iodine-131(HIPDM) was rapidly injected into the antecubital vein. The influence of 131I-HIPDM by lung clearance was analysed thought imaging of lung and ratio of prolongation of 131I-HIPDM in the lung. Prolongation of 131I-HIPDM in the lung was shown in the smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema in 60 minutes, and the healthy smokers, smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary emphysema in the 24 hours after the injection of 131I-HIPDM. Smoking is an important factor of disturbance of lung clearance.